Letters: Industry gets fair share of tax breaks

Industry gets fair share of tax breaks
A recent letter writer suggested American manufacturing companies be exempted from real estate taxes in order to encourage economic development within the U.S. Massachusetts General Law Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 16(3) exempts all personal property other than poles, underground conduits, wires and pipes for domestic manufacturing companies.
This exemption is just one example of commercial/industrial property owners receiving local tax breaks from cash-strapped cities and towns. Also, these exemptions increase the residential tax rate for cities that choose to split their tax rate between commercial and residential.
-- JOHN G. WHELIHAN
--Holyoke
Teacher evaluations priority in Chicopee
A recent letter writer states that teacher unions in Westfield and Chicopee rejected taking part in the Race To The Top (RTTT) program “because of the requirement dealing with teacher evaluation.”
I cannot speak for my colleagues in Westfield, but as president of the Chicopee Education Association, I think I am in a better position to comment about why Chicopee’s educators declined signing on to RTTT than the letter writer.
While everything he wrote about evaluation, its purpose and practice, is accurate and, I wish to point out, heartily endorsed by Chicopee educators – so much so that the purpose and practice of it is spelled out contractually – his offering that CEA’s refusal to sign-on because of the evaluation requirements of RTTT is pure bunk.
In truth, Chicopee teachers have been working jointly with central administration for more than a year on crafting new evaluation procedures and protocols, better suited to meet the needs of both administrators and teachers for fairly and effectively evaluating the teaching staff.
Without addressing the many controversial philosophical issues embedded in RTTT, its mere complexity and its numerous, vaguely stated details for compliance were more than enough reasons for the conscientious and diligent members of the Chicopee Education Association to “reject the funds.”
Moreover, the government’s stance that if any of the three signers desired to withdraw after six months it could do so was hardly a strong reason for signing the Memorandum of Understanding. This point alone was made repeatedly at the RTTT meeting of Chicopee educators.
In simpler terms, I wonder if the letter writer would ever sign a contract if the salesman said, “Don’t worry, and trust me. Just put your signature on the dotted line. We’ll work out the details somewhere later down the road.” Would anyone buy a car from this guy?
--WILLIAM D. HOWE
--President, Chicopee Education Association
U.S. owes historic debt to Haiti
Forget altruism. It seems that we owe Haiti a debt that needs repaying in its time of need. Who among us knew that in 1779 Haiti sent 545 soldiers to help us drive the British out of Savannah?
They failed at it and a lot of them died. Every Haitian school child knows of this heroic effort, but no history book or teacher ever told me about it, or you either, I’ll bet. I was made aware of them only last week in Savannah when I saw the statue and read their story. Let’s do a little more to help these people and recognize them as the allies they are.
--BOB LEHAN
--Westfield

City must find way to stop the violence
Springfield, Massachusetts the birthplace of basketball and home to Dr. Seuss. Once a city that showed promise and dignity has grown a new face over the last few years. Now the streets seem to be flooded with violence, drugs and murder. In the past week there have been four gun-related deaths. Why has my birthplace become such a rough place to live?

I no longer feel as safe as I once did at night. The real questions are who is to blame and how do we fix it? It’s easy to point fingers and play the blame game while the usual suspects take their usual amount of heat. The mayor, the police, the economy, drugs, gangs and the always disappointing Falcons. But none of this finger-pointing ever solves the problem.

So how do we solve this escalating problem? More police patrols and increased drug raids? I believe this only adds fuel to the fire. It will only force the criminals to take more desperate measures to ensure that business continues as usual. There has to be a better way to solve the problem. This city is like a boat headed into a storm and we need to band together before it capsizes.

No longer should the news be littered with gun deaths and tearful mothers who have lost sons and daughters. We need to spread a message of hope throughout the area. That this city will pick itself up and rise to prominence. The people of the city shouldn’t have to live in fear. We deserve better but we have to work together. We have to find a way for a better tomorrow.
--TIMOTHY McWADE
--Springfield